Powell "Revives" Arafat

The Americans, desperate to avoid the failure of their Road Map plan, have swallowed their pride and turned to none other than Yasser Arafat.

First Publish: 8/22/2003, 3:34 PM

After many public statements, especially by President Bush, essentially accepting Israel's policy of declaring Arafat "irrelevant," Secretary of State Colin Powell actually called on the arch-terrorist to help save what was left of the peace process. Powell asked Arafat to use the security forces under his control - others are under the authority of Mahmoud Abbas - to help crush Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Abbas, known also as Abu Mazen, appears to be on his last legs, despite the best efforts of the U.S., and of Prime Minister Sharon, to bolster his government. Arab elements in the PA called on him to resign yesterday and even to leave the area.

Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA noted that Secretary Powell, in a statement yesterday outside the United Nations, equated between the Moslem terrorists in the Palestinian Authority and people - apparently right-wing Israelis and Jews - who oppose the formation of another Arab state in the Land of Israel. Powell said, "The alternative is what? Just more death and destruction? Let the terrorists win? Let those who have no interest in a Palestinian state win? Let those who have no interest but killing innocent people win? No. That is not an acceptable outcome."